Fomesafen accurate detection by poly (3-hexylthiophene) transistor-based sensor

Pesticides, while widely used by humans to prevent and control crop diseases, also inflict serious harm upon the environment. This study presents a rapid, disposable, label-free immune sensor for detecting fomesafen that is constructed using a field-effect transistor with poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) as its conductor channel. Antibodies to fomesafen were adsorbed onto the active layer of P3HT and subsequently protected with bovine serum albumin to prevent non-specific binding of bacteria or proteins. The resulting P3HT field-effect transistors can serve as a label-free platform for detecting the concentration of fomesafen following exposure to increasing concentrations. Under optimal conditions, the sensor exhibits a remarkable detection limit of 0.5 fM, surpassing other methods, and boasts an operating range spanning from 0.5 fM to 500 pM. These findings unequivocally demonstrate the sensor's exceptional sensitivity and efficacy in detecting minute concentrations of fomesafen and other pesticides.